“Blessing is Faith • Faith is Blessing” ~ ✨
The Bible tells us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3).
People may ask, why should we believe the Bible? The answer lies within the Bible itself: because all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). So, what does “faith” mean? “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Hebrews 11:6 states that without faith it is impossible to please God. We believe that the universe was formed at God’s command; the ancients bore witness to this faith. And in these last days, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished salvation. We, too, by faith and by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, obtain the right to become children of God.
A friend once asked: “Why do those who believe in the Lord remain so trusting and reliant on Him even when facing difficulties?” This is an excellent question, and it gets to the heart of our faith. The power of faith is great! That drives us to believing God’s words, setting our hearts on Him; communing in spirit, putting heart and hand to work, diligently walking in His way.
That said, those who believe in the Lord do not have smooth sailing or get everything they desire. On the contrary, Christians often face more difficulties and challenges than non-believers! The difference is that when believers pass through the channel of every trial and challenge, we believe God is always with us, protecting us and seeing us through safely. These are the promises recorded in the Bible, made alive and manifested in the lives of Christians. One can see this power among true believers; and in my own life, I experience God’s marvelous work every single day!
As the Lord said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). I encountered the Gospel in my youth. At a Billy Graham Crusade, I was deeply moved by the Holy Spirit, weeping and declaring to the Lord that I believed and accepted Him as my Lord… Looking back now, God’s eyes have never left me. Full of love and mercy, and with abundant grace, He has preserved me since my birth. I am deeply grateful and gladly share this wonderful blessing with others.
The relationship between a believer and God is built upon “faith”. This faith encompasses the thought of faith, the hope of faith, and the love of faith. I remember in my youth, a preacher used the method of guessing a coin in a closed fist to explain faith. Through many years of experience, God has given me a better understanding of what it means to believe in Him.
I read that in the Old Testament, Noah, by faith, revered God. At 500 years old, he obeyed God’s command to build a massive ark, saving his family and countless future generations. Abraham, by faith, obeyed when called to leave his father and his people; he was 75 when he left Ur/Haran, not knowing where he was going. The difficulties he faced leave much to my limited imagination from the scriptural record. But some years ago, my visiting Jordan and Israel gave me a somewhat deeper understanding of Abraham’s experiences at that time.
Abraham, by faith, offered his son Isaac to God. God established Abraham as the father of many nations, with kings coming from him. Among believers, he is also called the father of faith. Rahab the prostitute, by faith, welcomed the spies in peace and did not perish with the disobedient; when Jericho was destroyed, God saved her household. There are many examples; you can find more wonderful testimonies in the Bible.
Today, we live in the age of grace. As children of God, what can we do for God by faith? I don’t aspire to taking up massive projects like Noah building the ark, nor great feats accomplished for God like Moses. I simply want to start with myself firstly, because my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. To do well oneself is, however, truly not easy! In the New Testament, God gives believers many instructions and guidance.
I refer to the virtues written by the Apostle Peter in his second epistle (2 Peter 1:3-11). Regarding the eight qualities he mentions, how do believers experience what faith is, and what these virtues are, in daily life? Believers can also find abundant teaching in Paul’s epistles. I always remember that the Holy Spirit is the best teacher, because Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible repeatedly mentions doing good, because our God is good; for example, “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Thus, we see our relationship with God is interactive and cooperative. It is through “faith” and “obedience” in Christ that we carry out the good work God prepares for each of His children.
While on a boat in the Sea of Galilee in Israel, I pondered how blessed Peter and the other disciples were to be chosen by God’s grace, to walk and live with the Lord for three years, taught by Him personally. When believers talk about the Lord calling the disciples “you of little faith,” Peter is often the prime example; for instance, his three denials of the Lord become a laughingstock for self-righteous believers. I remember the night the Lord walked on water, the boat was buffeted by the waves. Only Peter asked the Lord to command him to come to Him on the water. The Lord said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. He took hold of the Lord’s hand, and they climbed into the boat together, and the wind died down (Matthew 14:22-32).
From Peter’s experience, I see one prayer that is “unafraid of danger” and another that is “to grasp hold of the Lord.” Peter was unafraid of danger to walk with the Lord. But when danger struck, he grasped the Lord’s hand and passed through safely. He not only passed through this trial safely, but his faith in the Lord gradually grew. God desires believers to have a heart of faith, and this resolve comes from every word that comes from the mouth of God. What many ordinary believers pray for is to not experience danger, not suffer hardship, not get sick, or to not be punished for mistakes, etc. These believers, still living in the flesh, will retreat when facing danger, or boast when overcoming it.
Faith must be exercised in storms to grow. Believers walk a narrow path, but not a path of little faith. The narrow path is the heavenly path, where the Lord walks alongside, while the path of little faith stops believers from drawing near to the Lord. After his repentance, the Lord used Peter mightily (Matthew 16:18-19). His end was good — he glorified God through martyrdom (John 21:19).
I believe many reading the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament ask why God didn’t just end the rebellious Israelites early? Why did God give them chance after chance to repent? From this, we should see the truth that never changes through all generations — God abides by His covenants. He will never forget the covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Leviticus 26:42), and He will certainly not reject the children received under the precious blood of His Son Jesus.
It is people who break covenants and turn away, but God never breaks His covenants! Even though the Lord said (Matthew 7:7): “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”; and also (John 15:7): “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”, we still have people of little faith or covenant-breakers today who do not abide by the Lord’s teaching.
We know God from the Bible; we are encouraged by the great clouds of witnesses through the ages; and we experience God’s mercy and kindness through our personal circumstances. May we all respond to our faith in God with our own actions/conduct. The Gospel is a blessing to those who believe; blessed are those who can see the Gospel as a blessing. There is no “take two” in life; before reaching the end, it is time to shape the outcome.
If you have not yet responded to the Lord’s choosing, please do not delay any longer 👇🏻
《The Choice》 ✨
Without sincerity, man finds no footing on earth.
By faith, righteousness finds its anchor in heaven.
Propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame — these four are not it.
The path of sin leads to destruction.
The righteous living by faith is truth.
The way and the truth and the life — only Jesus.
Not wishing for even one to perish.
Desiring all to repent is God’s will.
If you still linger, pacing in hesitation,
Reject evil, choose good — do not delay.
✨✨💖 ~
en yan hua fang 